Mail-bag closure.



No. 738,439. PATENTED SEPT, 8; 1903.

H. J. HEILIG.

MAIL BAG GLOSURE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

M w w mf M w m: NORRIS PETERS co. movuuma, WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES Patented September 8, 190 3.

PATENT H ()FFICES HARRIS J. HEILIG, OF RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR TO ALEX- ANDER BOYD ANDREWS, JR., OF RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA.

' MAIL-BAG CLOSURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,439, dated September 8, 1903.

Application filed February 21, 1903- Serial No. 144,485. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRIS J. HEILIG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Raleigh, in the county of Wake and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Mail-Bag Closure, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to bag-closures, and is intended primarily for application to mailbags. In bags of this latter description it is very important that the closure should be capable of ready and easy manipulation to permit the insertion into and removal of mailmatter from the bag, also that the parts when in the closed position should be firmly held against all strains likely to be put upon them, and that there should be no crevices or openings through which the contents of the bag might be extractedor lost.

In carrying my invention into effect I provide the mouth of the bag with a collapsible frame composed of members hinged together to form a polygon when opened. Upon opposite members of the mouth-frame are provided inwardly-projecting lugs having perforations or openings adapted to be brought into close proximity and in registry when the frame is collapsed, into which perforations fastening means, such as a padlock, may be inserted. Foradditionalsecuritycover-plates are hinged one to each of two opposing or opposite members to overlie the members of the frame when collapsed, these cover-plates closing any crevices or openings in the frame and having perforated lugs so positioned as to be brought into registrywith each other and the perforated lugs of the frame members when in the closed position, when fastening means may be passed through all of said lugs. These and other features will more fully appear as I proceed with a more detailed description of my invention.

An embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts, and in which-'* Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a mailbag embodying myimprovements, the mouthframe being partly but not fully in its open position and a portion of the ba -body being broken away; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the frame closed, but with one of the coverplates thrown open. 7

Referring to the drawings, A represents a mouth-frame composed of a number of members a connected by hinges a, so as to be collapsible. Four of these members are shown, but any other suitable number may be employed, as may be found expedient. The bagbody is attached to the mouth-frame in any well-known or suitable manner. Secured to opposing'or opposite members of the frame lugs B are provided, each having an aperture or perforation I). These lugs are formed preferably, upon small pieces of sheet metal suitably bent and riveted to the frame members and are so positioned that when the frame is collapsed they will lie close together with the perforations in registry. Instead of being formed from sheet metal, however, they may be made of rod stock orin any other suitable manner. Cover-plates O are connected to opposing or opposite members of the frame by hinges o and are provided at one end with an upturned lug c, havinga perforation 0'. Each cover-plate has also an outer lip or flange c to engage over the opposite member of the frame when closed, and one of the lugs c has an outwardly-turned lip 0 When the bag is open, the frame members are moved, as shown in Fig. 1, the movement then being continued until the parts form asquare, the cover-plates being thrown back clear of the bag-opening. When the bag is to be closed, the frame members are first collapsed, bringing the perforations 1) of lugs B into registry. The coverplate at the left of the figures is then closed down overthe frame member, to which it is attached, and the adjacent member also, as

shown in Fig. 2, the aperture in its lug a com ing into registry with those in lugs B. The other cover-plate is then folded over to bring its lug into registry with all of the others and its lip 0 over them. In this position fasten ing means, such as a padlock, may be brought into engagement with all of the lugs, the frame members are thus firmly held against all strains tending to open them, and the cover-plates securely locked in position.

While I have described in detail a specific embodiment of my invention, I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to that IUU particular form, as many changes in construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and these I wish it 'to be understood fall strictly within the scope and purview thereof.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a mail-bag, the combination with a collapsible mouth-frame comprising a plurality of members connected by hinges, of perforated lugs upon opposing members of said frame positioned to extend inwardly from opposite sides of the frame, and lie adjacent each other with the perforations in alinement for the reception of fastening means when the frame is collapsed.

2. In a mail-bag, a collapsible mouth-frame comprising a plurality of members connected by hinges, inwardly-projecting perforated lugs upon opposing members of said frame, and cover-plates hinged to opposing members to overlie the frame members when collapsed, said cover-plates being provided with lugs perforated to register with each other and the perforations of said frame-member lugs when the frame is collapsed.

3. In a mail-bag, a mouth-frame comprising plurality of members connected by hinges, inwardly-projecting perforated lugs upon opposing members of said frame, and flanged cover-plates hinged to opposing members and constructed to overlie and engage the frame members when collapsed, said cover-plates being provided with lugs perforated to register with each other and the perforations of said frame-member lugs when the frame is collapsed.

4. In a mail-bag, a collapsible mouth-frame comprising four members connected by hinges, inwardly-projecting perforated lugs secured to opposite members, and cover-plates hinged to two of the opposite members to over* lie the frame members, said cover-plates being provided with lugs perforated to register with each other and the perforations of said frame-member lugs when the frame is collapsed.

In testimony whereof I havesigned my name to this specification iu the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRIS J. HEILIG.

Witnesses:

O. D. GREEN, W. L. WATSON. 

